| Beyrick De Vries takes the Mr Price Pro Junior Ballito |
| Sunday, 04 July 2010 14:24 |
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Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga) ran away with the biggest title in South African Pro Junior Surfing, claiming the 6A Surfing South Africa Mr Price Pro Ballito by defeating Chad Du Toit (Dbn) today. A standout from start to finish, netting the event’s highest scores to reach the final, De Vries rode a wave of confidence producing another spectacular performance to pocket the R12 000 winners cheque. “I’m on top of the world right now,” De Vries said after his win. “I saw the way Chad was surfing throughout the event and I knew that it would be the two of us in the final. He almost came back in the end there but luckily I got the best waves and the best scores.” Opening his account with an incredible 9.00 (out of ten) for a double grab frontside 180 aerial manueuver, De Vries took an early heat lead and despite some determined attempts from Du Toit, sealed victory by threading his way in and out of a classic Ballito barrel to emerge with a 9.35 (out of ten) from the judges. “The last day turned on a great show here in Ballito,” De Vries said, “the waves are super fun and glassy, I had a good friend in the final and I was able to stick to my aerial strategy thanks to the light winds all morning.” De Vries’s win adds to a string of successes for the youngster this year, including a win at the Mr Price WP Open and a 4th place finish at the ISA World Junior Championships in New Zealand. De Vries now has his eye firmly set on the 5 Star ASP International Mr Price Pro Ballito that starts tomorrow. “I’ll be looking to win the 5 Star for sure,” De Vries said. “You don’t enter a contest unless your goal is to win. I’ll be up against Jordy (Smith), Travis (Logie) and Taylor (Knox) (USA) so it’s going to be one of the hardest events of my life but I’ll be trying my best.” Finishing in the runner-up position Du Toit kept the final exciting, challenging his rival with 7.00 and 8.25 scores (out of ten) but was forced to settle for second best earning himself R6000. Sarah Baum (Warner) showed why she is the future of South African Womens surfing with a well-deserved first place finish over Alice McGregor (EL) in the Pro Womens division. Netting the highest scores of the Womens event, including 9.00 rides during both the semifinals as well as the round of 8, Baum defeated McGregor to earn R12 000. “This year’s been great for me, it’s always been a dream to win the Mr Price Pro and finally it came true, so I’m stoked,” Baum said. “I was watching the boys final and was so amped for my heat. The waves were tricky and it was fast and shallow but I had fun.” Baum impressed all with her fast and precise surfing in the final, capturing an early lead off a 7.50 and followed up with 5.50 for a combined heat total of 13.00 (out of 20.00) to defeat McGregor who finished with a 6.50 (out of 20.00). Although disappointed not to go all the way, McGregor earned R6000 adding another respectable result to her 2010 campaign. Haydn MacNicol (Scott) and Matthew Bromley (Kom) finished in equal third positions respectively, the pair earning R2500. MacNicol fell to an inform De Vries who wasted no time in throwing a pair of 7.0 and 8.25 scores on the scoreboard during semifinal 1. Unleashing a combination of powerful re-entries as well as a front side aerial, De Vries left MacNicol in a combination situation in the first few minutes of the heat. Bromley was ousted by Du Toit in the dying minutes of their semifinal clash. Du Toit snatching the lead from Bromley with a 5.50 to top the Capetonians 5.00, earning him the second of the two Final berths. Tarryn Chudleigh (Kom) and Stacey Guy (Mboss) finished equal third earning R6000 each, Chudleigh defeated by Baum while McGregor was eliminated Guy. The 5 Star ASP International Mr Price Pro Ballito kicks off tomorrow July 5 and will feature four of the World’s Top 45 surfers including World No. 2 Jordy Smith (Dbn); World No. 30 Travis Logie (Dbn); World No. 13 Chris Davidson (Aus) and World No. 16 Taylor Knox (USA). Don’t forget the press conference today will take place on the La Montagne Deck at 14H00. World No. 2 Jordy Smith (Dbn), World No. 13 Chris Davidson (Aus), World No. 16 and 2000 Mr Price Pro Champion Taylor Knox (USA), Travis Logie (Dbn) , 2006 Mr Price Pro Champion Ricky Basnett (Bluff) and Greg Emslie (EL) will all be in attendance. Members of the press are invited to attend. Tune in to East Coast Radio for live updates on the Mr Price Pro each day and if you can’t make it down to the beach you can watch all the action live on the webcast at www.mrpricepro.com. - ends RESULTS PRO JUNIOR BOYS SEMIFINAL PRO WOMEN SEMIFINAL FINAL BOYS FINAL WOMEN
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